Oh lord, it's a sweater!

Yes. I am finally working on a sweater. Hallelujah!

The pattern is from Knitty, which is a fantastic online knitting resource, and is one of my fave ways to find new (and free!) patterns.

Anyway. The back and sleeves are basically knit like a shrug, so I am almost down to the end of my first sleeve- just two inches to go. I'm hoping I won't burn out- at least the body of the sweater has stripes, but the interminable black portions of the sleeves are KILLING me.

My reward for finishing the first sleeve will be to take a picture and post it here. Yes, I am a dork.

I am hauling it along with me to Stitch N'Bitch tonight, so hopefully I'll manage the last few rows in between bites of creme brulee.

Im Baaaaaack....

Yes, after much though, I am diving back in over here at sweatergrrrrl. I missed knitting! I have still been quietly working away on projects, and am probably going to do a lot of updating around there this weekend. So, welcome back!

Ok kids...

I am definitely losing my grip on this page, despite still being active at TMWA, so I tell you what- I think I am going to incorporate the two sites.

So, if you want to stop by and take a gander at the goings on at TMWA, I will be posting all the knit-related goodness over there from now on.

Happy Holidays!

Jenna

Crap.

Sweater Grrrl

OK, something has happened to the SNB website, so I need to look into THAT.

In other news, Magknits has come out with a new issue: check it out!

And- I am working on my first episode of second sock syndrome. Unfortunately, I think it's a battle I am destined to lose.

DONE!!!! Bhahahahahaaaaaaaaa!

Allright kids.

I finished it. (Despite reading most of the Outlander series in the intervening time as well.) It's shorter than it was supposed to be, and I refused to do the decreases on the sleeves. Oh, and I messed with the button placement. But the Einstein coat is done. Done, done DONE! Hallelujah! Pictures will be forthcoming. I always say that, don't I?

Oddly enough, I think it's more flattering on me than the existing pattern. It hits me right below the hips, instead of going down to my knees. Go figure. This is what happens when you don't swatch! (I know, I know.)

I also broke every single one of my vows and made a fluffy white beret. It's sooooo cute- I used a pattern from mag.knits, and just left off the snowflake chart. While I also thing think that the accompanying mittens are cute, I have no need of mittens in the winter in Fresno- thank heaven. I am all about the gloves.

Next on the list? I am gonna make some SOCKS, people. Well.......sort of.

Also, for those of you who don't get the knittyreader alert- knitty's fall surprises are up. Check 'em out!

Makin' Stuff

Yea! I made something!!!!(Something that is not a coat.) Go figure!

In other news, the ladies want new Fresno-specific SN'B shirts. I am workig on a logo to bring with me to the meeting tonight- we'll see how it pans out.

Progress...

So, I have finished the entire body of the Einstein coat, and I am now working on my first sleeve. Oh god- I am so bored with garter stitch, I could scream.

In the meantime, stuff keeps coming up to keep me from knitting- like, oh, cleaning, and setting up my dandy new laptop....

Oh, and we have a new member of the family, as of today. She is yet to be named- any suggestions? This will give you a vague idea of what our behemoth looks like- except ours is turquoise and white, instead of red and white. It needs a lot of work and TLC...but I suspect I am gonna love cruising around when it's finally restored.

I am voting for this color scheme. I mean, dang! Wouldn't anyone?! My spoilsport husband wants to keep it original, but...after seeing that picture, I am not going to quite nagging about it anytime soon. (Turquoise and Black! Turquoise and Black!)

Anyway, the thing is a boat. You could fit about 4 bodies in the trunk. Not that I plan to, but uh, I'm just sayin'....we could baaaaarely squeak it into the garage. However, the thing needs extensive restoration, and I suspect voles are nesting in the upholstery, so this is going to be a long and exhaustive process. I will say that the chrome is still beautiful.

I got my Born To Knit T-shirt today! It is ah.....a trifle snug, but I am going to wear it tomorrow regardless.

I have no excuse....

Damn you, amazon.com!

Once again, been setting the old credit card on fire. I was inspired when I saw Virginia's healthy book collection, and I had to make some new additions to the knitting library (and I also got that Outlander book she kept raving about!):

Knitting On the Edge and Knitting Over the Edge, by Nicky Epstien

Weekend Knitting, by Melanie Falick

The Gift Knitter- Knitting Chunky for Babies with Four Legs & Two, by Tara Jon Manning

The Knitted Teddy Bear, by Sandra Polley

World of Knitted Toys, by Kath Dalmeny

So, if you're wondering where I am, I am probably knitting....or reading about knitting. You just never know! I plan on bringing some of these to Stitch N' Bitch tomorrow night. The "World of Knitted Toys" book is especially cute.

Oh....and I broke down and bought THIS. Sadly, it will not be here by tomorrow, but I look forward to wearing it next week!

I'd post pics of the UFO's, but since they are both coats and therefore huge and it's impossible to see progress, it would be rather pointless. But I can say that I have finished the back of my Einstein Coat, and I have a few inches on the Pierrot Coat from the most recent issue of Vogue Knitting. Woohoo!

Wooly bully!

If you're wondering what the hell I have been up to....

This should give you some good idea: check out some yarn pornography (Recent additions to my stash.

As you can see, I have been busy! God Bless Flickr.

You can also check out the works in progress and stuff I have recently completed.

I think I need to get one of those "Yarn ho" t-shirts. I'm just sayin'.

Stash? What stash?

Sweater Grrrl

So, yeah, I went to Fiber Arts in Oakland.

Needless to say, I went back to hit the ATM- twice. I definitely went a little psychotic. I'll update this post with pictures as soon as I get around to it, but here's a brief rundown of what I bought.

Spun Banana Fiber: Man, this stuff is cool- it looks a lot like recycled silk, and I got three BAGS of solid colors: deep red, eggplant, and electric blue. Incredibly affordable, and really soft.

2 hanks of luscious snow-white mohair. I am thinking about dyeing it down the line, we'll see how I feel later on. I have this sweater I really want to make out of it, but the idea of looking like the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man: not appealing.

Gorgeous variegated nylon ribbon: it's magenta, silvery gray, charcoal, and a deep purple. All at the same time! *swoon* One drawback- this stuff tangles like there's no tomorrow. It came in hanks, and I made the fatal error of attempting to make it into a center-pull ball. Yeah. I don't recommend it. I was still untangling 24 hours later. What a nightmare!

Recycled silk- of course. I bought from two different vendors, and I have to say- one was a better deal, and the other was better quality. Either way, I luuurves me some recycled silk.

Funky zebra novelty yarn: we're talking, black mohair, variegated black and white fun fur, and some silver spangles, all spun into one glorious milti-strand yarn. I know this sounds like a nightmare to you novelty yarn haters out there, and all I have to say is: if RuPaul were a yarn, this would be it. And yes, to me, that is a compliment!

Black polyamide blend fuzzy stuff: so soft. So shiny. Two hanks worth. Yum.

A Ball winder! FINALLY. I have been winding like a fiend. Once again, please read the disclaimer about the nylon ribbon. That stuff is way too slippery. Everything else, works like a charm.

Vintage buttons: for all the baby stuff I seem to be making.

Yeah- that's it- we won't go into what I bought at the yearly sale at Ancient Pathways. Or the TWO purchases I made at WEBS recently. Eek!

Um, yeah, so I am knitting!

One sage green baby sweater is ready to assemble. I have a panel started on the wine colored Einstein coat I am making. I have finished the back of the cabled baby sweater- and I need to go buy another ball of Trendsetter Yarns: Dune from Meg. The wrap needs to be longer- I guess this is what happens when you decide to wing it! I also just completed my first ever felting project, and the purse in question turned out to be soooooo cute.

So, yeah- busy, busy, busy.

Knitting article in the Clovis Independent!

Sweater Grrrl

For anyone whose interested, this came out on July 1st- considering that I think the interview was more that two months ago (!)

But I am quoted kind of extensively, and so is Jeanette from Stitch N' Bitch. I think they mis-attributed the thing about football to me, however. I actually found a man who doesn't watch the stuff. (No, you can't have him, he's mine!) Unless it sounded like "football" when I said, "The History Channel."

Also- Stitch N' Bitch is referred to....but not by name. I think they were afraid that the good citizens of Clovis might be a little scandalized by our freedom with "the B word".

Anyway, here's the link. Enjoy!

Back from the dead- and other minor miracles

Sweater Grrrl

Holy Toledo- it's been two months. TWO MONTHS. No wonder I am getting freaked-out e-mails...although, I would definitely feel the love if I ever got any comments. I know people read this, dammit!

Ahem. OK, temper tantrums aside- I read some of my "I am so frustrated with work" posts, and I just want to hurl. I cannot believe how much things have changed. How much better I feel, and how much more positive my outlook seems to be.

Indeed, I think the buddies who used to depend on me for mordant wit are a little disappointed with the "kinder, gentler" me.

Soooo much is going on!

Knitwise: (kwise?)

Wow, I have been knitting a lot. I need to open up a flickr acct so I can share the love. Uh...I have made 10,000 iPod cozys, a recycled silk purse, a black Fun Fur stole for wintertime, a ribbon and mohair wrap (actually, two- one in brights, and one in black and white), and am in the process of making a yummy beret out of Berocco Furz.

Yes, I abandoned the red cape again. It is just way to damn hot in this town.

I also have an experimental "penguin project" in progress- however, he is my first encounter with short row shaping, and uh...he sort of looks like he has, "special needs".

He is definitely kind of lopsided and lump-esque, but I still love him. I am not sure if I am brave enough to submit him for inspection, as my husband likes to mock his appearance. Hmph.

I start teaching classes to make the fun fur techno-cozies at Michael's next month. I am sort of excited, yet terrified. And I am going to Fiber Arts next month as well!

Gawd, looking at my July calendar- There's stuff going on every weekend. Fiber Arts, co-throwing a baby shower for a friend in Woodland, Fiber Arts, teaching two knitting classes, and then takiing a few days to go to the coast with hubby for Anniversary number three.

Ok, it's late, and I am getting tired just thinking about all this!

Vacation, all I ever wanted!

Sweater Grrrl

So, I a. Quit my job. And b. regained my sanity. Amazing how that works! My last day of hel*cough* work was April first. April Fool! No, seriously. And thank heaven, because I swear, if I stayed there any longer, I was going to either eat my own head or commit a felony.

So, what the hell have I been doing? Namely, getting the house in order. It's taken two years to get this scary. I am following the tenets of Flylady - and my sink is now shiny. Which for me, is a major achievement. Sometimes, that's all I can manage, but it's enough.

And I am *gasp* writing and generally trying to live life to the fullest. I have also rediscovered how much I genuinely love my husband. It's amazing how much better we get along when I am not a stressed-out maniac. He seems to think it's worth the 50% cut in income to have a wife who is actually nice to him and cooks occasionally. Even if I am occasionally snarky with him for putting peanut-butter-encrusted utensils in my shiny sink.

So- Stitch & Bitch is now meeting weekly. Hooray! We had a small meeting tonight, and I am putting out feelers to some other local groups, so I can post info under "knitting events" on the SNB webpage. It's also time to go on a pilgrimage to the local yarn shoppe and say hi to Meg. I miss her!

I am making the time to knit- after dinner, I have my ME time scheduled. I am enjoying knitting while watching HGTV and have actually caught a few episides of Knitty Gritty on the DIY network as well. Good schtuff.

I actually revived the "Rose Red" cape project. I hate telling people I am making a cape. It just slips out, and if they are a non-knitter, they look at me like I am going to wear it with my Wonder Woman Underoos. Note to self- think cape, SAY shawl. Anyway, after I foiled my dog's attempt to unravel the whole thing, my needles have a few teethmarks in 'em, but it's going pretty smoothly, considering.

Take Back the Knit!

Ooooooh, knit knit knit……

I finally sat down and knitted more on my next iteration of the Switcharoo bucket hat. This one is Black Thick & Quick Wool-ease- 2 strands held together. It’s a little thick, and I am in the putely experimental stages, but I am really liking the way that the texture looks. I am also going to get it together and drag out the red shawl for another go tonight, since it is time for knitting Meetup, boys and girls!

I totally flaked on S N’B this month. I haven’t updated the site since uh, February? And a lot of people have been e-mailing to reassure themselves that I am not dead.

I am just working on a lot right now. I am coming up with a knitting events calendar for the Fresno area, that lists what everyone is doing- so there will be a link to that on my website, where people can e-mail their events to me, so I can update it as I go. I also want to make a downloadable pdf of the SNB flyers, so if anyone wants to invite a friend, they can.

In the meantime, I am preparing for a trek to San Francisco! So I should be teaching my little sis (& possibly her roommate) how to get their knit on. Wish me luck!

Sweater Grrrl

Sweater Grrrl

Jeez. I haven’t had any time to get on here (or indeed, to update my site, or check my e-mail.)

Hubby has bronchitis. Cough cough wheeze wheeze! Doggie has been going to the vet almost every day to get his stitches checked and the bandage changed.

Knitting got molested by aforesaid doggie, and I ended up having to rip out a few rows of my cape (not to mention, try to unsnarl the yarn, which I eventually had to declare a complete loss.) Yeah, I was pissed OFF. I am hoping to get into it more later on tonight.

I just have a ton going on that seems to be building up on a weekly basis. I just wanted to reassure you all that I am not dead! I am just trying to focus on getting healthier and getting my life back together.

There have been a few requests for the hat pattern- I just realized that I didn’t include a gauge for it. Whoops.

Um...I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeVille....

Sweater Grrrl

Man, that is a huge-ass photo of my enormous noggin. Oh well. I refuse to be hard on myself, it's way past my bedtime.

Knitting Meetup went well, more on that tomorrow. *YAWN*

The latest Masterpiece- Switcharoo Bucket Hat.... 

Inside Out! 

The Incredible Switcharoo Bucket Hat Debut

Sweater Grrrl

I am so freaking excited.

I have been crazy busy- it’s like my need for knitting had gone dormant or something. I just haven’t had the time to sit and do it- even on my lunch breaks, I have been running home to check on my poor wounded doggie (to make sure he’s not ripping his stitches out or eating the weed whacker while he’s cooped up in the garage). I was planning on knitting on the trip to D-Land, but it was pitch black in the car both ways. Evenings, exercise or social stuff has kept me away from the house, so I just haven’t had an opportunity to knit much.

Anyway- on one of those social outings, Angela and I randomly went to Fashion Fair Mall. I hate the mall, and I haven’t been there since it was redecorated (I think that happened about two years ago). However, I needed to go to the Disney store to get my D-land ticket. (Wasted trip-evidently, they don’t have 1-day park hopper tickets at the Disney store. Word to your mother.) So since we were IN the mall anyway, we decided to check out one store, and there I saw...a hat.

I am not a hat person. Hats do not like me. I have a round face, a short neck, and completely out of control hair that frizzes out beneath any restraining headgear in a skanky metal chick kind of a way. Not attractive.

“Try a beret”, you say?

I’m sorry, but Ms. Monica Lewinsky screwed that one up for me royally. As another zaftig blue-eyed brunette, I get enough freaky weird comments from guys. I don’t want to enhance any kind of resemblance to the woman. Don’t get me wrong, I think it is a compliment- she’s an attractive person.

However, the people who comment on the resemblance inevitably start off with, “Now don’t take this the wrong way…but has anyone ever told you that you look like Monica Lewinsky?” Then they leer at me like I just might have a fully stocked humidor and some kneepads in my purse. One guy actually pulled a picture of Monica out of his WALLET to double check. What the hell is that?! Can anyone here say ICK- what kind of freak-ass weirdo carries a pic of Monica Lewinsky around with him?!

So yeah. Berets are out. And I look great in cowboy hats, but- I am just not country. No, not even a little bit. Don’t even try to talk me into it.

So anyway, I finally found a non-cowboy hat that actually looked good on me. It was a black faux-fur deal- a nice “bucket” shape with a flare around the face. It was on clearance. There were also turquoise and pink hats that were similar, but were just a bit too small for my big huge head. I figured I would just go ahead and knit something myself that would work.

When I got home, I started looking for bucket hat patterns. Hello, gi-normous snag! Evidently, there aren’t any good bucket hat patterns online. I found a few that might work with major tweaking, but there was a charge for them. Oy. If I am going to pay $ for a pattern, it better be dead-on what I want to make.

After some deliberation, I arrived at the conclusion that I would just have to make my own pattern. I pulled out the new hat that I bought, and just went to town using it as a guide.

As serendipity would have it, I was trying to make a hat with 6 panels, and I didn’t knit a swatch. (I know, I know- shame on me). 4 panels ended up working better for those of us who are not the Jolly Green Giant. So I have two panels left over- but the finished hat is so very PERFECT. I can’t even believe it.

I did it all in garter stitch, using Jiffy Thick & Quick on size 15 needles. The hat holds its shape beautifully, due to the weight of the yarn and the creative seaming, and it needs only minimal blocking. You can cheat the angle of the brim to flatter your face, or even roll the brim back in a jaunty manner. You can also flip the hat inside out and wear it with the seams showing if you want to look a little bit rock n’ roll. I think I am also going to knit some flowers to pin on there, so I can sass it up when I am in the mood.

So, suddenly, my interest in knitting has been magically revived. It’s all I want to do right now- unfortunately, I have to actually do work. But I am going to Knitting Meetup tonight- hopefully, there will be a good showing! And I will be wearing the new hat. (Pics to be posted tonight…)

Revenge of the Creeping Crud

Sweater Grrrl

You guys can tell I've been busy, right?

I am sick. Again. I have been taking vitamins, supplements, Airborne,
etc. for the last two months. Then I guess I got cocky. The creeping
crud strikes again.

On the upside, the day at home allowed me to get back into knitting my
cape. It's definitely progressing (pix to come soon.)

Well, it looks like the Get Out! Calendar came out- there have been
about 125 hits on the site in the past two days, and that's the only
explanation I can come up with. S N'B is on the calendar of stuff to
do.
However, I don't see any article on the newfound popularity of
knitting.
Perhaps I should call Meg and see what's shakin'.

Ok- so I am just sitting here, eating my pomelo sections. This day
cannot end soon enough!